salt water crocs!

[gopbroek]

I was wondering about this. Thanks. The Australian salties are seriously scary.

Here is a good article on them: American crocodile - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Sloeber]

A long time resident told me a story about someone that got attacked down past the Sky Reef area many years ago. Said they were on the shoreline in one of the many areas you can pull off. Not sure how accurate this is, but it wouldn't shock me.

 

[cvchief]

American croc snorkel trips are regularly done on the Chinchorro Banks off the Yucatan coast. XTC Dive Center in Xcalak was one of the dive shops that offered the croc snorkel trips. Don't know if they still do it.

Croc diving pictures. Holy criminee

 

[mmmbelows]

Not sure I'd be up for swimming with crocs out at chinchorro, especially after seeing that the dive masters are feeding the crocs lion fish now, not sure why humans can't just leave the wildlife alone.

---------- Post added June 12th, 2015 at 11:28 AM ----------

From Playa last August:

[youtubehq]-JFKv-qwPFk[/youtubehq]

That is seriously scary right there!

 

[Dave Dillehay]

Yes, these crocs are seemingly not interested in humans,we are too big I guess. Saw one large croc miss a dg many years back but never heard of a human being threatened by one, even though they are widespread around the island. I remember some years back when a "herd" of them swam up on the beach at the Cozumeleno Hotel, and had one chase a kayaking Villa Aldora guest from the swamp behind Puerto Abrigo. As best I know they are known as Moret's Crocodiles and remain pretty small compared to those in Asia. It is rumored that they go to the saltwater to rid themselves of parasites. Thats all I know.

Dave Dillehay
Aldora Divers

ALDORA DIVERS

 

[cvchief]

It is rumored that they go to the saltwater to rid themselves of parasites.
Dave Dillehay
Aldora Divers

ALDORA DIVERS

I heard it was the two for one at Money Bar that brought him out.

 

[drrich2]

As best I know they are known as Moret's Crocodiles and remain pretty small compared to those in Asia.

When I was reading up on Belize, it was my understanding they had both American crocodiles (larger, brackish dwellers) & Morelet's crocodiles (smaller, freshwater), and here's a link to an article that affirms those are the only 2 in Belize.

To get to Cozumel, a croc. would have to cross some salt water. A little quick Googling suggests it's the American croc. you've got on Coz.

Richard.

 

[Hoyden]

I believe you're referring to American crocodiles. I mention this because while they are brackish dwellers, they are much different from what's usually called a salt water croc.

American Crocodiles (C. acutus) is not limited to being a brackish water dweller. They live and thrive in saltwater. What most people refer to as a Saltwater Crocodile (C. porosus) is a larger (although not that much larger when you compare average adults, just when you compare the extremes) into-pacific croc that is no more likely to be found in saltwater than an american croc.

Jackie

 

[DandyDon]

When I was reading up on Belize, it was my understanding they had both American crocodiles (larger, brackish dwellers) & Morelet's crocodiles (smaller, freshwater), and here's a link to an article that affirms those are the only 2 in Belize.

To get to Cozumel, a croc. would have to cross some salt water. A little quick Googling suggests it's the American croc. you've got on Coz.

Richard.

How the Morelet's crocodile got across the channel could be debated, but it's the more common specie in Mexico, with some overlapping of range with the American croc. The Cuban crocodile once had a wider range in the Caribbean, but now is fighting extinction.

 

[drrich2]

The Morelet's may be in the more common in Mexico, but what about the island of Cozumel? Googling, I mostly find the American crocodile associated with Cozumel, though I found a couple of pages claiming Morelet's were there, too.

Richard.

P.S.: Cuban crocodiles can be beautiful. Here's a photo I took of one at Gatorland, out of Orlando, a few years back: